TOWNSVILLE CLASSIC FILMS INC.

Film discussion

We encourage our audience to have an opinion about the films they watch. We hope they enjoy our screenings but more importantly we'd like them to articulate what they do and don't like about what they've seen.
We believe in the power of storytelling and that all the films we show have a good story to tell while maintaining a strong point of view.
On this page we'll be sharing our thoughts about the films we've screened, and we'd encourage you to add to the discussion in the comments section.
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9/9/2017

Show Boat (1936)

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Musicals and Comedies can be the most subversive of the film genres. They set the audience up for good fun, and under that cover can deliver some very telling and biting social commentary.

Show Boat (1936) is such a musical. The film is remarkable for the voice and the songs of Paul Robeson, with 'Old Man River' being perhaps the most moving musical number in all of film history. While Robeson himself was deeply embroiled in the politics of race, it is not Robeson's appearance alone that makes this a very political film.
Picture
The storyline highlights the realities of segregation, the injustice of forbidding inter-race marriage, the foolishness of being suspicious about white people who want to mix with blacks, and even how distasteful 'black face' stage routines are.

It could be argued that much of what happens in this film is only a reflection of how things were.  But there is no doubting that the way this action is framed within the film exposes the sympathies of the filmmaker. Watching Irene Dunne's 'black face' performance from the cheap (black) seats, seeing Julie's descent into alcoholism after being kicked off the show boat for being black, and seeing an unsympathetic character's (Magnolia's mother) distaste and alarm at her daughter mixing with the blacks... all these key elements of the film frame the story in a  way that undoubtedly sympathises with the plight of African-americans.

A film that was ahead of its time, that was highly political, and that captures some of the greatest moments in cinema... like Robeson's songs, all while being a box office success. One of the greatest ever musicals.

What are your thoughts?

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    Mark Enders

    Programmer and Presenter at Townsville Classic Films

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   About Us

We are a Townsville based incorporated community group which is bringing great films back to the big screen. We focus on films that are at least 30 years, with broad appeal and which have stood the test of time.
We encourage thought and discussion about film, and we regularly bring screen industry guests to town in order to give our members the opportunity to meet and speak with them about films and the film-making process.

  • Home
  • Screening Locations
  • Upcoming Films
  • Bookings
  • Past Screenings
  • Classic Film eZine
  • Photo Gallery
  • Other Film Events and Groups
    • Townsville Cinema Group
    • Tors Drive In
    • Mission Beach Film Club
    • Babinda-Munro picture theatre
    • Event Cinemas - Classic Films
  • Contact